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PennDOT fighting snowstorm before the first flake falls, spokesman says

SNOW_PREPARATION

City of Easton employees Matt Noel and Mark Schroeder prepare to spread salt Tuesday afternoon during a brief snow squall. State and municipal workers will be busy from today into Saturday as six to 10 inches of snow is expected to fall.
(Express-Times Photo | SUE BEYER)

With six to 10 inches of snow expected, much of it after dark today, the first line of attack is a liquid salt brine, Young said. The anti-icing solution is sprayed on roads so snow doesn't easily bond with the surface, he said.

Once the storm gets underway, plows will begin to do their job -- and will keep it up until the weather has passed and state roads are clear, Young said. The priority will be interstates and expressways, he said.

Are you tired of winter yet?But the job doesn't end there, because two features of the impending storm will make things particularly difficult for drivers, Young said.

First there's the wind, which could gust up to 30 to 40 mph, forecasters predict. That could lead to drifting and whiteout conditions -- especially with the expected fluffy nature of the snow -- and the need to replow once cleared roads, Young said. The falling snow -- if heavy enough and if the wind blows hard enough -- could also cause whiteout if it turns horizontal for a time, he said.

And then there's the tremendous cold. Road salt becomes less effective when the temperature drops below 15 degrees, Young said. The overnight low from Friday into Saturday is currently expected to be 3 below zero, the National Weather Service predicts. As it gets colder, PennDOT will switch from salt to a mixture of fine stone and sand -- and anti-skid mixture -- which will provide traction if not road clearance, Young said.

It's possible speed limits could be reduced to 45 mph on highways, he said. In extreme conditions, Gov. Tom Corbett could close highways, although that's not necessarily expected in this storm, Young said.

So, if you have to drive, what should you keep in mind?

"Just give yourself extra time and leave plenty of room" between you and the drivers ahead of you, Young said. "Just be extra cautious."

Tim Greeley, a spokesman for New Jersey
Department of Transportation, said this afternoon that officials have been
tracking the storm since the beginning of the week.

About 2,400 department vehicles are at
the ready, stocked with a brine solution and salt which they will spread on highways throughout
the state. The goal was to get out in
front of the storm as workers are preparing for the worst case scenario, Greeley said.

"Once you get that accumulation to a certain
level where you're behind and trying to fight to catch up to get roads clear,
it becomes increasingly difficult to do so," he said.

NJ Transit's cross-honoring system is in place today, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode, including rail, light rail or bus -- including private bus carriers. Keep up to date at njtransit.com. NJTransit is operating a full schedule today but, due to the severity of the storm, delays should be expected on bus routes, according to a news release.